Day 10: Overt
A/N: This chapter is a continuation of Chapter 9: Value (by the request of the faithful few who are sticking with me as I keep clawing my way through this challenge).
New Year, new semester, new school, new clothes. It was a lot of "new" all at once for Kurt, but it was necessary. Leaving McKinley had been both the hardest and easiest decision he'd ever had to make. It was hard to leave his friends and everything he knew; it was easy to walk away from the overt homophobia and threats to his safety, especially when those threats escalated to the point of making him fear for his life.
During the Christmas break, Kurt had toured the school with his dad and Finn. "Dude, this place looks like Hogwarts," Finn had whispered loudly, causing Kurt to roll his eyes while Burt and the Dean attempted to hide their smirks. Kurt would never admit that Finn was right, although he half expected the figures in the giant paintings to start moving and talking at any moment.
The first day of the new semester finally arrived and found Kurt standing just inside the main doors (his dislike of the brisk January wind was stronger than his trepidation of crossing the threshold), staring at the throng of uniform-clad boys darting here and there to begin the day. He wasn't sure how, but the building seemed even more overwhelming and imposing when bustling with students than it had been empty. Schedule in hand, he took a deep breath, determined to face this new challenge and make the best of the opportunity he'd been given.
Now if only he could remember the way to his first class.
"Excuse me," a politely charming voice at his shoulder startled him. Turning towards it, he found an impossibly handsome boy about his own age, smiling at him warmly.
"I'm new here," Kurt blurted, flustered at having been caught off-guard.
The boy smiled a little wider, extending a hand. "I'm Blaine," he said by way of introduction.
"Kurt," was the only reply he could make as they shook hands briefly.
"Yes, I know. I'm here to help you get settled – show you around, get you to class until you find your way, things like that," the boy explained, reaching for Kurt's schedule. "May I?" he asked, reaching for the paper, which Kurt handed over silently. "Oh, good. You have English first, and I'm in that class, as well. Come on, we can walk together. It's almost time for the bell, but I know a shortcut," he added with a little wink.
Kurt startled again when Blaine nonchalantly took his hand and began leading him at a little jog down a corridor that was much less crowded than the entrance hall had been. He hardly had time to register the grandeur of the gallery or the feeling of Blaine's hand in his own before they rounded a corner and were suddenly outside of a room whose sign proclaimed it to be their destination.
"Ready?" Blaine asked him lightly.
Kurt took his second deep breath of the morning and let it out slowly. New Year, new semester, new school, new clothes. New chances to be happy.
Smiling for the first time in days, Kurt nodded and followed Blaine into the classroom. He was ready.